Around Us 11-05-09

By the PDH

Published 6:00 pm, Wednesday, November 4, 2009

BUSHLAND — A massive fireball with flames shooting 700 feet into the air erupted shortly after 1 this morning in Bushland, forcing the evacuation of residents, destroying at least one house and lighting up the night sky for miles.

Authorities said a gas line ruptured at an El Paso Natural Gas pump station in the Prairie West subdivision. Potter County Sheriff Brian Thomas said it’s too early to determine what triggered the blast, which rattled windows miles away in Amarillo.

Potter County Chief Deputy Roger Short said three people were injured in the blast

Those injured suffered burns and were taken to Northwest Texas Hospital in Amarillo, Short said. He didn’t provide details.

Concerned about structural damage caused by the explosion, authorities told residents they would not be allowed to return to their residences until at least dawn. Many had gathered at Bushland Middle School where the American Red Cross was providing assistance.

The blast launched an overwhelming emergency response with many personnel gathering at Bushland High School, about a half-mile from the fire.

Thomas briefed many residents who had gathered at the middle school and said one residence was destroyed. Houses within a half-mile of the scene were evacuated. Deputies were patrolling the Prairie West subdivision, which has at least 100 houses, ordering people by loudspeaker to evacuate and remain out of the area.

Authorities shortly before 3 a.m. were able to close the gas line that was feeding the fire. Flames subsided considerably but still were evident. Heavy smoke later settled over the area, drifting south over Interstate 40 and reducing visibility. — Amarillo Globe-News

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LUBBOCK — A Slaton horse trainer who shot and killed himself in South Lubbock traffic Wednesday morning recently told a family member he was going to try to commit "suicide by cop," court documents show.

Friends said Mark Stowe, 43, was distraught about marital problems when sheriff’s deputies tried to serve an arrest warrant for aggravated assault on him while he was driving in the 9800 block of Indiana Avenue.

The warrant, issued Tuesday, stemmed from an incident last week when Stowe reportedly threatened his wife with a shotgun when she refused to take him back, according to the document.

Chief Deputy Cody Scott said deputies had information that Stowe was armed and driving around the area where his estranged wife was staying and working. Deputies surrounded Stowe’s pickup just before 10:15 a.m., blocking his truck on Indiana Avenue just before the 98th Street traffic light.

Stowe shot himself in the head before deputies had time to get to him, Scott said. He was dead at the scene.

Scott said deputies surrounded the vehicle to serve the warrant rather than try to initiate a traffic stop to prevent a possible pursuit through traffic. Warrant officers had been following him for a few minutes when they surrounded his vehicle. Scott said the strategy is not uncommon for a possibly dangerous felony traffic stop.

According to his warrant, family members reported to deputies last week that Stowe had a history of suicidal thoughts and attempted suicide. He was believed to be suicidal after last week’s incident with his wife. — Lubbock Avalanche-Journal

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LUBBOCK — A motorcyclist received serious injuries after colliding with a school bus Wednesday afternoon in West Lubbock.

No children on the Frenship Independent School District bus were injured in the crash, which happened about 4:24 p.m. Wednesday on FM 179 south of Texas 114, according to the Lubbock fire and police departments.

The driver of the motorcycle was taken to Covenant Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries after he drove into the back of the bus. — Lubbock Avalanche-Journal